Battle
Napoleon ordered Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno, to Montereau, but Victor's force was slow in marching on Montereau, this gave time for Württemberg to strengthen his hasty positions. Harassing Cavalry attacks by General Claude Pierre Pajol, managed to push back outposts and slow the improvements of the defenses, but could do little else without the support of the infantry troops of General Victor-Perrin.
At 9:00 AM on the 18th Victor arrived at Montereau. Furious with Victor’s slow advance, Napoleon replaced him with Étienne Maurice Gérard.
Gérard set to work establishing fire superiority over Württemberg’s defending troops. By early afternoon artillery of the Imperial Guard had arrived and allowed Gérard to silence Württemberg’s batteries and bombard the village.
At 3:00PM a French attack captured a ridge forming the key to Montereau’s defences. Frederick I of Württemberg subsequently ordered a retreat, but it was soon turned into a rout by a cavalry forces led by Claude Pierre Pajol leading a sweep into the village and Allied rear. Pajol’s cavalry charge also prevented the Allies from detonating demolition charges on two key bridges allowing further pursuit.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Montereau
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